Stethoscope.



No. 843,319. PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907.

P. A. AURNBSS. STETHOSGOPE.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 22. 1906.

W/T/VZJ EJ Q i HAS 8 TOH/YEY PETER A. AURNESS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

STETHOSCOPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 5, 1907.

Application filed January 22,1906. Serial No. 297.121. I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETER A. AURNEs-s, 0 Minneapolis, Hennepin county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stethoscopes, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to im rovements in the elliciency and general uti ity of stethoscopic instruments. 0

It relates particularly to the employment in a stethoscopic air-chamber of a soundwavc-refracting lens or lenticular body having refractory qualities, such lens being ad justed and attached in a focalizing manner to a sound-exit in said air-chamber.

The object of this invention is to rovide in an instrument of this kind a soun wave retracting lens focalizing sound-waves at or near a sound-exit for the further assage of such focalized and thereby intensified soundwavcs through appropriate tubes or pipes to the car. T1 object is obtained by particular constructions and combinations of parts, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the cl aims.

The invention will be more readily under-' stood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional view scopic instrument embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a modification of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of another modification. Fig. 5 is a top view of the same. Figs. 6 and 7 are details of the ear-tubes.

In the drawings, 2 represents a bell-shaped body, composed of metal or any other suitable material, having its open end closed by a diaphragm or membrane 3 and provided at its closed ends with an orifice 4, into which a nipple 5 is inserted, and providedwith branch tubes 6 for insertion into the ear. One, two, or more of these tubes may be formed in con nection with the nipple 5 to enable one or more persons to make use of the instrument simultaneously. A refractory lens 7 is providcd within the body, double convex in form and consisting of a membraneous envelop containing a suitable fluid or gas capable of collecting and intensifying the soundwaves. This lens may be held in place by the diaphragm, which is secured by any suitable means, preferably by the ring 8, threaded to the base of the art 2.

In Fig. 31 I have shown a modification of of a stethothe instrument which consists in providing a shell or casing 9, open at the top and bottom and having an intermediate neck 10, wherein the refractory lens is suspended. The top and bottom of the shell are closed by disks 11 and 12, which are preferably threaded to engage the correspondingly-threaded walls of the shell and are adjustable thereon. Tliese disks are of diflerent areas and either one may be utilized, according to the area of the chest-surface upon which the examination is made. Each disk is provided with a central orifice 13 to receive the nipple 5, which may be inserted into either disk, according to whichever end of the instrument is placed on he chest.

In Fig. 4 I have shown still another modification, which consists in providing a shell 14, having a constricted passage 15 leading from a chamber 16 in the top of the shell. to a similar chamber of greater area 17 in the bottom of the shell. Each end of the shell is provided with a membrane corresponding to the one shown in Fig. 1, though of less diameter, and held in place on the shell in similar manner. The neck of the shell has an orifice 18 to receive a plug 19, having a hole 20 on one side and communicating with tubes similar to those described with reference to Fig. 1. When the plug is inserted into the neck, with the opening therein on the under side,'the tubes will communicate with the chamber 17, and when the plug is turned so that the opening is on the upper side the tubes will communicate with the chamber 16. In these chambers refractory lens 19 and 20 are provided, corresponding in function and construction to those heretofore described and serving to collect the sound-waves and transmit them in an intensified form to the ear-tubes. A half-turn of the plu 19 will connect the tubes with either cham er 16 or 17 and adapt the device for use with the small diaphragm or with the larger one, as I preferred' This apparatus can be folded compactly and carried in the pocket, and when used as a stethoscope will focalize the sound-waves and transmit them in an intensified form to the ear-tubes.

I claim as my invention' 1. A stethoscope comprising a double coneshaped shell having open ends and diahragms of different area inclosing the same, said shell having chambers in each end, and a constricted passage connecting them, a plug fitting into an orifice in said passage and having ear-tubes and a hole in its side wall communicating with one of said chambers whereby upon rotating said plug either of said diaphrngnis may be used, substantially as described.

2. A stethoscope comprising a shell having disks of diil'erent :n'ens interposed between as described.

3. A stethoscope comprising adouble coneshaped shell lie-vii e open ends and diaphmgnis of diil'erent n-reii closing the some, said shell having chambers in each end and e constricted passage connecting them, said and :1 refractory lens sand disks, substantially {passage having a horizontal orilice, n, plu; having ear-tubes attached thereto and a hole in its side wall to allow said plug to eonnnunicnl'e with either one of said chambers when inserted illln snid .ll'lll('(- and it rel'rznrtoev lens provided in each of said elnnnbers and near I said diuphruignis hereby the sollIHl-VHLVUS ill be localized for the purpose specified.

.ln witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand this 16th day olJznnmry, 1006.

lE'lER A. AUHNICSS.

l i l l I \Vltnesses:

l Rn'nuu) PAUL, l i

l (7 i\l.-\CNAMARA. 

